She was adorned with jewellery and all dressed up,
With a garland of flowers and perfume of sandalwood,
Her feet brightly rouged:
A courtesan wearing slippers.

She took off her slippers in front of me,
Her hands in añjalī,
And softly and sweetly
She spoke to me, smiling:

“You’re too young to have gone forth;
Come, stay in my teaching!
Enjoy human sensual pleasures,
I’ll give you riches.
I promise this is the truth—
I’ll swear by the Sacred Flame.

And when we’ve grown old together,
Leaning on sticks,
We’ll both go forth,
So we’ll win both ways.”

When I saw the courtesan seducing me,
Her hands in añjalī,
Adorned with jewellery and all dressed up,
Like a snare of death laid down.

Then the realization
Came upon me—
The danger became clear,
And I was firmly repulsed.

Then my mind was liberated—
See the excellence of the Dhamma!
I’ve attained the three knowledges,
And fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.